December 25, 2013

Garrett attributes the Cowboys success on defense in the first game vs. Eagles to stopping the run

The Cowboys defense has been one of the worst in the NFL for much of the season. They currently rank last in the league, 31st against the pass and 27th against the run.

That numbers should spell doom in Sunday's matchkup against an Eagles offense that ranks 2nd in scoring, second overall, first in rushing and ninth in passing.

But if the Cowboys are looking for hope they can point to their first matchup against the Eagles, a 17-3 victory Oct. 20 in Phildelphia. Not only did the Cowboys hold Philadelphia to their lowest scoring out put of the season but they held the league's top-ranked rushing attack to 84 yards. Quarterback Nick Foles completed just 11 of 29 passes for 80 yards before leaving in the fourth quarter with a concussion.

"What we did well in that game is we took some of those things away and that’s what you’re trying to do," Garrett said. "Anytime you can bottle up that runner, he’s a fantastic football player. You don’t need me to tell you that just put the tape on. He’s something else. And he’s very difficult to tackle in space, he’s fast, he’s quick, he’s explosive, he’s elusive, he make tough runs, he makes home run plays for them and a lot of what they do in the passing game comes of what he does. So the objective is try to take him away. We did a pretty good job of that in the first game and then hopefully affect the quarterback."